BEST Strike: Thousands of commuters stranded; many don’t have money for going back home

Over 30,000 state bus transport staff in Maharashtra went on an indefinite strike demanding immediate payment of their pending salaries. The employees are on a silent protest until their demands are met.

At least 25 lakh commuters who travel by buses daily have been affected as they had no information regarding the strike. (Representative image)&nbsp | &nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspBCCL

Mumbai: Over 30,000 state bus transport staff in Maharashtra went on an indefinite strike demanding immediate payment of their pending salaries. At least 25 lakh commuters who travel by buses daily have been affected as they had no information regarding the strike.

The employees are on a silent protest until their demands are met. In addition to releasing their pending salaries, the workers also seek regularisation of salary grades with retrospective effect, gratuity for retired employees, re-initiation of recruitment and promotion process and merger of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) budget and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budget.

An industrial court warned the workers' union and declared the strike as illegal. The BEST transport is the second largest mass transport system in the city after local trains. Lakhs of people are dependent on buses to reach their workplace, colleges and schools. Aggrieved passengers are opposing the strike saying that it is always them who have to suffer.

Mumbai: Bus services affected at the CSMT due to the indefinite strike by BEST(Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply&Transport) over demands of implementation of the merger of the BEST budget with principal budget of the BMC, employee service residences etc. pic.twitter.com/SXlTfiZDeB

Meanwhile, private players have stepped in to provide bus services since there is a lack of alternatives. They are capitalising on the opportunity by doubling the commute fares. However, most of the passengers cannot afford to take these private buses due to budget constraints. Unaware about the strike, thousands of them are stranded as they do not have money to go back home. Many of them preferred walking on foot to their destination rather than paying the double amount. Some passengers also complained that a large part of their salaries is spent on commute.

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BEST Strike: Thousands of commuters stranded; many don’t have money for going back homeDescription:Over 30,000 state bus transport staff in Maharashtra went on an indefinite strike demanding immediate payment of their pending salaries. The employees are on a silent protest until their demands are met.Times Now